227 South Semoran Blvd.Winter Park, FL 32792
407-986-9464View Website HereArooga’s calls itself a slightly above average grille house and sports bar, and I like that. Better food than most sports bars around, lots of TV’s and a fun clean environment to enjoy sport and food.

Most of the food is made in house prepared by chefs instead of factory workers as they call it. The fresh baked bread, wings, sauces, salad dressings, the house made soups all taste pretty darn good.

The TVs here, are TV-er. You can see every game from every seat in the restaurant, and they mean every game, because they have every sports package available all 365 days of the year on nearly 1000 flat screen tv's between all of their locations.

They have free wi-fi, Buzztime trivia and NTN Texas Hold 'em with over 80 menu items under $8.99, and several other items priced over $8.99 for the rich folks. So if you're looking for great food prepared and served by above-average people that prepare and serve great food, you'll find it at Arooga's.

Based out of Pennsylvania, this is the only Florida location of Arooga’s. They have a handful of locations in CT, NY, and NJ, and the Florida location makes number 20 overall.

Almost all Arooga’s Locations have over 30 beers on tap or in a bottle, but they have some pretty good cocktails also, like this Spicy Bloody Mary on the left and an Ultimate Long Isdland on the right.

There is plenty of room at the bar here also, and Arooga's has partnered with a local Craft Distillery to produce Sagoora Premium vodka. (Arooga's spelled backwards) it is distilled 4 times from grain, charcoal filtered and hand sealed.

I've never had Fried Banana Peppers before, but these beer battered tots with a Troegs Beer Troegenator Doppelbock batter with sriracha aioli were quite tasty.

Amish Pierogies were very good also, actually surprisingly good and perfect two bite size that was great for sharing.

I'm always a sucker for Truffle Tots, and these Truffle Tots at Arooga’s with white truffle oil, truffle aioli and shaved parmesan did not disappoint.

Ok, so the Ghost Face Killa wings are a challenge wing that requires you to sign a waiver as they have a dry ghost pepper rub. They were good, They were Hot, but they were not that hot. Mostly a front tongue burn, but hardly worth signing a waiver for.

The Philly Cheese Steak Boli is really damn good with shaved steak, beer caramelized onions, green peppers and mozzarella with cheddar and house marina. Boli is short for Stromboli.

The Donut Grilled Cheese was happiness in your mouth with a griddle glazed donut, American Cheese, and 4 strips of applewood bacon.

The Signature Baked Potato Soup with thick chunks of baked potato and savory bacon in a creamy soup topped with mozzarella & cheddar cheeses, then baked in the oven and drizzled with sour cream was pretty exceptional as well.

The Prime Brisket Sandwich at Arooga’s was really good, but it looked much better in pictures as this was a tad bit smaller and not as fancy as it looked. The 14hr smoked Brisket was good on the multi grain bread.

Funnel Cake Fries were a great dessert to share at the table and quite delicious.

Arooga’s… A slightly above average sports bar? I was actually impressed with the quality of the food here and the flavors. The menu is huge, and there is something for everyone, and there is also a TV for everyone... I would say it's a little bit more than slightly above average for a sports bar.

If you're looking for fun and good food, you'll find that at Arooga’s. If you're looking for your boyfriend and/or girlfriend, they haven't seen him and/or her.

Arooga’s is open every day from 11 am until 2 am, The kitchen is open until midnight or later.

Reel Fish Coastal Kitchen + Bar is a contemporary version of a classic fish camp, serving fresh Florida seafood prepared in a southern style and served in a casual, family friendly environment. With Winter Park being located almost directly between Florida’s Atlantic and Gulf coasts, they are in the perfect place to receive daily shipments from the state’s top sustainable seafood purveyors.

The menu is pretty set, but they do have occasional menu additions that explore delicious fish and seafood sustainably sourced from waters further afield, that is served with generous helpings of laid back Southern hospitality.

One such menu addition worth exploring is the return of the second annual Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner on Monday, December 24th.

The food will be served at a communal table and shared among 50 guests with wine pairings and dessert to finish it off.

The evening begins with a warm reception with a sampling of snacks that include Octopus Ceviche, Baked Clams Casino and Shrimp Mac & Cheese paired with Gratien & Meyer, Rose Champagne, Cremant de Loire, Brut, France.

Baked Clams Casino.

After reception diners will move on to family style sharing platters that start with savory flavors with Whiskey Shrimp and then Seafood Nachos paired with Blue Rock, Baby Blue Blanc, Sonoma Coast, 2017.

The Fried portion of the dinner is next with a whole fried Hog Fish and a whole fried genuine American Red Snapper with smothered tomatoes & okra and french fries paired with Bravium, Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley, 2015.

The whole fried Hog Fish was incredible.

Bravium, Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley, 2015.

For intermezzo, or a break between everything guests will be served Gulf Oyster Shooters featuring Tito’s Vodka.

After all of the shareable plates are served, each guest will get an individual plate of Cioppino, a pasta dish made with Clams, Shrimp, Scallops, Grouper and Tomato Broth over Linguine. Cioppino is an Italian American Fisherman's Stew. This is paired with Bertani, Valpolicella Ripasso, Veneto, Italy, 2014.

The Cioppino was just phenomenal. The Chef and Kitchen staff said it's all about the broth for this dish to be just right, and it takes perfect execution.

For dessert, Mike’s Famous Carrot Cake and a Seven Layer Chocolate Cake is served with Graham's 20-Year Tawny Port.

I don’t know what Mike puts in his “Famous” Carrot Cake, but it is hands down one of the best carrot cakes I've ever had.

The Seven Layer Chocolate Cake was very good as well. Very rich, moist and delicious.

Tickets are $69 per person (plus tax + gratuity) and can be reserved by calling (407) 543-3474. The Feast begins at 6:30 pm, and is available for the first 50 guests.

In the giving spirit of the holidays, Reel Fish will be donating 10% of all the Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner proceeds to the Coastal Conservation Association.
*Menu and wines subject to change based on availability*

Savor a coastal dining experience for the holidays that features comforting, chef-crafted classics with inventive recipes and unique gourmet fish sourced directly from local Southern waters all at a price that is very affordable.

Winter Park, FL 32789
(407) 960-5560View Website HereEstablished in 2017, Garp & Fuss sits inside The Hidden Garden along Park Avenue in Winter Park. If you walk past the koi pond and head right, you will see the signs for the restaurant, but it is hidden a little bit from the Park Avenue main storefronts.

For head chef Liz Zucco and general manager Nikki Nielsen, that “feeling right at home” experience is exactly what they set out to produce and add to the Orlando area food scene.

The name “Garp & Fuss” is named after Zucco’s two sisters: Alyssa (Garp) and Amanda (Fuss). Their childhood nicknames, Alyssa resembled the baby from “The World According to Garp” as an infant. Amanda was, to be nice, quite fussy when she was a baby.

In an effort to create a dining, drinking, and social gathering experience that adds fun at every corner, Zucco and Nielsen used the restaurant’s name as the key ingredient. What they built was a delicious range of food options that will meet the desires of anyone, whether seeking a full dinner entree or multiple shareable offerings.

The menu is pretty diverse here, and is as eclectic as the inside of the restaurant. Offerings range from crispy fried wings available in six different sauces, buffalo cauliflower, crab cake bites, poke lettuce wraps, the signature “Fuss” fried chicken sandwich with blueberry relish, the “Garp” brings a little Chicago flair down to Central Florida with a mouth-watering Italian beef sandwich.

The Good Ol' Thyme is made with Cooper’s craft bourbon, lemon, St. Germain elderflower, simple syrup, mint & thyme and was a very smooth bourbon cocktail.

We really enjoyed the Buffalo Cauliflower with tempura-battered cauliflower. We opted for the parmesan garlic sauce which went very nicely with this dish.

The Fuss… is made with Fried chicken, hot honey, marinated cucumber, arugula, boss sauce and blueberry relish. This was a superb southern inspired chicken sandwich that was simply delicious and just melted in your mouth, the fries were pretty good too.

The Schnitz is a different take on a Chicken Schnitzel at Garp & Fuss, and it has an excellent flavor and texture with crispy chicken breast, fried egg, arugula salad and shaved parm.

A visit to the five-room, 3,800-square-foot restaurant leaves one feeling a sense of comfort that can rarely be found outside of one’s own home.

Yes, this actually another room at Garp & Fuss, it’s upstairs above the bar and is super cozy like sitting in someone's living room. You can eat and drink and watch TV, just like you would at your friends house.

Although not too big, the bar here is a great place to sit and enjoy a good quality cocktail, or beer.

Garp & Fuss is closed on Monday’s. Tuesday to Thursday they are open from 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm. Friday and Saturday they are open from 11:00 am to 12:00 am and Sunday they are open from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm.

In the land of Tacos and Tex-Mexerys opening up on what seems like a weekly basis in Orlando, what could be better than another taco and Tex-Mex spot right?

Only this time we are going to make it a more upscale persuasion and call it Cinco Tacos + Tequila.

Cinco is all about bold flavors, varied textures and delicious aromas from a scratch kitchen and a colorful decor with the sound of diners laughing together. Cinco Tacos + Tequila has a main goal of bringing a total sensory experience to the Winter Park restaurant scene.

The new eatery has opened up at the former site of Carmel Kitchen, 140 N. Orlando Ave with a Cali Mex concept, taking the flavors of favorite Mexican dishes and adding an artistic twist.

Of course, complimentary chips and salsa will begin every meal. But the new concept isn’t just focused on excellent dining. The restaurant also has a fun, upbeat vibe with plenty of signature drinks to set the mood. The bar offers mixologist inspired takes on the classic margarita while still boasting an impressive list of more traditional cocktails.

The complimentary chips and house made salsa were a decent way to get started.

A pair of House Margaritas made with Sauza Tequila and house made sour mix were pretty smooth.

Ceviche de Camarones, or a fancy Shrimp Ceviche is made with fresh shrimp served on top of sliced cucumbers. These were pretty good and a great light bite appetizer.

Cinco Nachos are large and in charge and have really great flavor, with house made tortilla chips, cotija cheese, queso, chicken, lettuce, pico de gallo, sour cream, salsa and cilantro and are great for sharing.

The Grande Margarita on the left is served on the rocks with strawberries, mango, silver tequila, triple sec, fresh lime and is served over bubbling dry ice...pretty tasty and very entertaining. The Bubbly Pop on the right is a glass of Champagne with a house made fresh fruit popsicle in the glass.

The Pop Martini with pineapple infused Vodka and a rim of pop rocks on the left and a Blue Raspberry Lemonade with Svedka Vodka blue raspberry vodka and fresh made lemonade is on the right. Both were great cocktails and fun to drink.

Here’s a nice shot of the bar at Cinco, and I will have to say, they are pretty creative with the drink menu here. Almost everything we tried was flavorful and fun to drink with great presentations and fresh flavors.

We visited during a partial soft opening, so the dessert menu was not available yet, and I was a tad disappointed that I did not get to try the Churro Donuts, or the Bannanas Foster Butter Cake, or the Lime Vanilla Creme Brulee.

Cinco has several specials planned throughout the week, including Taco Tuesday and brunch on both Saturday and Sunday. Brunch will offer diners a selection of small plates, as well as tableside mimosas and bloody marys. We really enjoyed the food and the concept here, even if there are like 10 taco and and Tex-Mex establishments in a 5 mile radius, so we hope they last and do well here.

The kitchen and Bar at Cinco opens at 11:00 am from Monday to Friday, and on Saturday and Sunday they open at 10:00 am. Friday and Saturday, the bar is open until 2:00 am, and the kitchen closes at 1:00 am.

Since first opening their doors, visitors of The Mills 50 District have given its newest resident “Grape & The Grain Wine Bar” a very warm welcome, and now Grape & The Grain is celebrating the closing of the season and their official grand opening with a special “Summer Wine Down” event on Thursday, August 23.

From 5pm-9pm, all are invited to the intimate, artsy, relaxing craft beer and wine garden to invigorate all the senses and enjoy Grape & The Grain’s large variety of international fine wines, local craft beer, frosé, frozen sangria and more, with the first 100 guests receiving a free glass of Prosecco.

In addition, the evening will feature a special appearance by in-house artist Jay “J Bon” Bonadio “The Unsigned Artist” and live art to be auctioned off for A Gift For Teaching charitable organization to help provide children with school supplies. Plus, Flamenco Guitarist Jorge Mendoza will perform live inside with DJ Leony spinning in the garden and a popular local food truck on-site.

Grape & The Grain serves a wide variety of wine spanning the globe, a generous selection of craft beer from local breweries, frosé, sangrias, Prosecco on tap, a mimosa bar on Sunday, small plates like charcuterie and specialty cheeses, food trucks and various live musicians on weekends to round out the tranquil vibe.

The 1,200 square foot Spanish-style, vintage interior houses a rotating for-sale art exhibit that pushes the limits, with a new local Orlando artist featured every six weeks.

Most enchanting is Grape & The Grain’s spacious outdoor garden with a 1,000 square feet wood deck and grass area, covered trellis with Edison bulb lights, Adirondack chairs and a private driveway for food trucks, all wrapped in a custom fence lined with hanging succulents and seven-foot Italian Cypress trees.

Grape & The Grain is owned by seasoned hospitality and real estate professionals, husband and wife team Christian Arqueros and Alexie Fonseca, along with sister Maritza Arqueros.

“We’ve been fortunate to travel throughout Europe and South America over the years, and one thing we always loved most was sitting in a ‘piazza’ enjoying a glass of wine, watching the people walk by and the musician playing the sax or accordion for a euro going table to table,” says Alexie. “That spun the idea of how can we get something like this in Orlando? Why wait for someone else? We can create it ourselves. The timing was just right, we found a hidden gem in the up-and-coming neighborhood of Mills 50 and turned it into a vision we’d been working on for years.”

Grape & The Grain invigorates all the senses with local food, art, music and culture conspiring with wine to create the most unique evenings experienced in Orlando. The relaxing atmosphere is perfect for meeting friends to engage in sparkling conversation or making new ones as you unwind, sample, savor and enjoy.

Join Grape & The Grain Wine Bar for “Summer Wine Down” celebrating the official Grand Opening on Thursday, August 23 from 5pm-9pm. Grape & The Grain is located at 1110 Virginia Drive,Orlando, FL 32803.

Sprouts Farmers Market, one of the fastest-growing retailers in the country, announced it will open its first Orlando-area store in Winter Park.

Plans are set for a Wednesday, Oct. 24th opening to help meet the growing local demand for fresh, natural and organic foods at great prices.

Sprouts currently operates five stores in the state and has announced plans to expand in Florida with stores in Clearwater, Deerfield Beach, Naples, Oviedo, Riverview, Trinity and Wellington. More Sprouts locations opening in Florida will be announced soon.

“Florida shoppers have quickly embraced Sprouts’ welcoming atmosphere and unique combination of health and value,” said Sprouts Chief Development Officer Ted Frumkin. “We’re looking forward to meeting our new neighbors in Winter Park and across the state as we continue to expand to meet the demand for healthy living for less.”

The 30,000-square-foot store will be located at 1999 Aloma Avenue and will bring approximately 140 full- and part-time career opportunities to the area. Sprouts’ “Healthy Living for Less” approach to grocery shopping means potential team members should share a passion for healthy living and the fresh, natural and organic products offered throughout the store.

Sprouts offers competitive pay, team member discounts, a fun and rewarding culture, and numerous career advancement opportunities. Sprouts continues to accelerate investments in team members, including enhanced pay, benefits, leadership development and recognition.

To learn more about available career opportunities and team member benefits, or to apply, visit about.sprouts.com/careers or call 1-866-925-2396 for non-managerial roles.

Since opening its doors 16 years ago, Sprouts has built a reputation for offering fresh, natural and organic products at affordable prices. Sprouts’ knowledgeable team members are trained to help customers select the right products for their healthy living journey.

Guests can also enjoy more than 2,400 Sprouts Brand products, which meet strict ingredient standards while delivering exceptional taste and value. The healthy grocer has been a driving force for innovation in natural and organic foods since its inception, and has paved the way for numerous niche brands, many of which were first carried by Sprouts.

Winter Park shoppers will discover an abundant selection of fresh fruits and vegetables and barrels of wholesome grains, nuts and sweets in a bright, open store layout. Each store features an in-house butcher who prepares handcrafted sausages daily and assists customers with special cuts of meat and seafood seasoning.

Shoppers will also enjoy a variety of fresh and prepared deli items ideal for a grab-and-go lunch or dinner, a wide selection of freshly baked goods and craft beer and wine. The Vitamins and Body Care Department features more than 7,500 cutting-edge vitamin and body care products made with sustainable and ethically sourced ingredients.

For a list of stores by region or to see other locations coming soon, visitsprouts.com/stores.

Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. specializes in fresh, natural and organic products at prices that appeal to everyday grocery shoppers. Based on the belief that healthy food should be affordable, Sprouts’ welcoming environment and knowledgeable team members continue to drive its growth.

Sprouts offers a complete shopping experience that includes an array of fresh produce in the heart of the store, a deli with prepared entrees and side dishes, The Butcher Shop and The Fish Market at Sprouts, an expansive vitamins and supplements department and more.

Headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz., Sprouts employs more than 28,000 team members and operates more than 300 stores in 17 states from coast to coast. Visit about.sprouts.com for more information.